Combined poker and clinker tongs



F. T. RICHARDS COMBINED POKER 'AND GLINKER TONGS Jan. 7, 1930.

Filed June 1928 Patented Jan. 7, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT or ficeFIBJZL'DERICK T. RICHARDS, OF FREEPORT, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO STOVERMANUFAC- U TUBING 8: ENGINE C0., OF FREEPORT, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OFILLINOIS COMBINE POKER AND oLInKER TQNGS Application filed June 6, 1928.Serial No. 283,178.

This invention relates tohand implements for use in connection withfurnaces. and open grates for working or conditioning a fire bed and forremoving clinkers.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an improved clinkertongs characterized by a sliding and a swiveling clinker rod which maybe manipulated in a particularly advantageous manner as will bedescribed hereinafter.

Another object is to provide as a new article of manufacture a clinkerrod which may be sold either as a unit for attachment to an ordinaryfurnace poker, or as a complete clinker tongs including as one of thejaw elements a conventional furnace poker. My improved clinker rod ispreferably shorter than the poker and is attached to the latter bysuitable means such as links permitting of lengthwise as well asswiveling movement of the clinker rod upon and with respect to thepoker. By providing a handle on one end of the clinker rod and a jaw onthe opposite end the jaw may be manipulated with respect to the pokerjaw or prong to clamp either lengthwise or sidewise according to theparticular needs. I have also aimed to provide a clinker rod of thecharacter described having a jaw of improved construction comprising afirst and a second right angle bend in one plane and a third right anglebend in a transverse plane adapted to cooperate with the prong of apoker for gripping and clamping. This adds to the utility of theimplement as it gives not only a greater clamping range but also a.better holding effect. This is especially advantageous in connectionwith clinkers of large and unusual shapes and proportions.

Still another object is to provide an implement of the characterdescribed which may be economically produced and which will bethoroughly practical for the purposes intended.

Referring to the drawing Figure 1 is a perspective view of a combinedpoker and clinker tongs embodying my invention;

Fig. 2, is a perspective view of the clinker rod separate from thepoker; and

Fig. 3 is an end view looking at the jaw end i i of the implement. U

My invention relates particularlyto the construction of the clinker roddesignated generally by 4, which as above mentioned may be sold as aseparate article of manufacture, as shown in Figure 2, this being aneconomy to the purchaser possessing an ordinary furnace poker with whichthe clinker rod is intended to beused. The clinker rod may also beattached to a conventional furnace poker as shown in Figure l and soldas a complete implement which has vthe functions both of a poker and aclinker tongs.

I The poker, designated generally by 5, may be of any suitable orpreferred construction and as shown inFigure 1 comprises a rod ofsuitable length shaped at one end to provide. a handle 6and at itsopposite end a right angle prong 7 which constitutes one of the jaws ofthe tongs when the clinker'rod is assembled therewith as will bepresently described. j i

The c1inkerrod4 is bent atone end to provide a handle 8 and atitsopposite end to provide first and second right angle bends 9 and 10respectively, in the same plane as the handle 8, and a third right anglebend 11 in aplane transverse to that of the handle; Any suitable meansmay be provided for attachingthe clinker rod to the poker so that it mayhave'longitudinal movement with respect to the poker and also-have aswiveling movement. In this instance a pair of S- shaped links 12 arewelded at one end to the clinker rod in spaced relation as shown and arelooped at the opposite end around the poker so as to permit of thesliding and swiveling movements referred to. When the clinker rod issold as a separate article the end 13 of each link will be left openasshown in Fig. 2, thus permitting sidewise insertion of the poker,after which the ends may behammered down into holding connection. Anysuitable or equivalent means may, however, be used for attaching andholding the two rods in operative relation such, for example, asordinary chain links. It will be observed, viewing Fig. 1, that theclinker rod is considerably shorterin length than the poker,

the poker may be used effectively for working the fire bed withoutobstruction of the clinker rod.

Wheneveaeera, are clinker rod may be moved into a position in Whichitsvjaw end cooperates with the prong or jaw on the poker for gripping orclamping-aclinker. In this" sense I have provided a new and improvedimpleme'ntwhe'reby (sneer the jaw's'may be moved in a clamping actioneither lengthwise'of the poker or iriaswiv'eling movement transverse mumplane'of said lengthwise movement. In the full line" position shown inFigure 1 the portion JLOof the swiveling aw is positioned opposa'to the'poker jaw 7 so thatupon manipulating the handles these jaws" be causedto' open andclose on a clinker and to efiectively' hold the clinker forwithdrawing'itfrom the furnace. Obvi ously, the tongs maybeused as suchfor handling 'clinke'r s outside of the fire bed or furnace. 4 Thetongs'are also adaptedfbr other uses asfor hiand'lingheated' metalpar'tsespeoia'lly' inconneetion'with forges where the oker is'useful inworking the fire'bed and positioning the partsto'be heated; Under somecircumstances," especially in the han 'dling of large clinkers,' theclinker rod may be withdrawn to permit working the poker jaw around theback of the clinker, whereup on the clinker jaw may be pushed forwardlyto clamp the 'i'nt'rposed'clinker'. One example of'thi'slatter'method'of using the imple' ment'is shown by the dotted lineposition of the clinker ro'd'in Figure 1f. The shajpe'ofthe jaw onthe'olink'er rod'is also advantageous intha'tit; gives a wide grippingportion 10 and an angular endll which, combined with the' ca'pa'oity'for movement lengthwise and ma transverse plane; enables firm grippingof almost any clinker. This shape" together with the 'capacityformovement of tl iisjaw with' respect mul oker-jaw greatly in creases ther'ange'of useand the utility ofthe implement.

While I'have illustrated but a singleeni bodirnent of inve'ntionit'should 'be'u'iidef- 2. The combination of a poker having a handle at oneend and an angular prong providing a jaw at the opposite end, a clinkerrod having a handle at one end and a prong providing a clamping jaw atthe opposite end, thefolinker rojd beingws'ubstentially shorter than thepoker; a pluralitybfS-Ishapedmembers having one end fixed to the clinkerrod d h th r n idab x an r t tably sup.-

second'rig angle" b p li minating in a' thir' d right angle bendinatransverse plane,jthe' clinker ro'dbe'ing sub stantially shorter thanthe poker,a'nd aplu rality of Ssh aped member's" haVlI IgOHQ' end fixedto the clinker rod and theother end slida'bly' rotatably supported uponthe poker intermediate the ends permitting the former tohav'ealongitudinal'as well as a swiveling movementwith respect to thelatter;

witness of the fore oingl aiiixmy'si gna ture. FREDERICK T. RICHARDS.

stood that'variousiehanges might be'iiiade'ih thesha'pe and proportionofthepartswithin the spirit andscdp-e ofthe appended claiin'sf Iclaimrp 1. As anew article of manuracair'empeker ,ait'taehinentempr'ising-ajma eat at pasted to provide ofhandle"and. at opposite endto ievideaciamping portion;sna ciampmg portion having a firstahfcl a seend right angle'beiid in-ofie lane and termi'natirig ih a third rightangle" bend in atransver'seplane";

